Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
PCOS is a hormonal metabolic disorder that causes a variety of symptoms, including an irregular menstrual cycles, ovarian cysts, facial hair and insulin resistance. Here are some nutrition tips to keep you healthy.
The supplement SAMe can help promote a healthier state of mind. And while it is beneficial for mood, it is also helpful for hormone balance, according to Amanda Williams, MPH.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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When we think about our skin, we have to realize that this is a really integral part of our overall health. When we recognize all the ways in which the skin is utilized to support our existence, it really is quite pronounced. It’s not just the external protection that we think of. Our skin also plays a really critical role in terms of temperature regulation, sensory detection and toxin removal.†
We also have to realize that the skin is something that we have to protect from environmental pollutants and harmful chemicals that we are perhaps applying to our skin. That is why I want to talk about those chemicals and the science of what that actually means when we are applying some of these harmful chemicals topically to our skin. What does it mean when these chemicals get absorbed in and now the liver has to deal with it? This is a major problem and not just for women. We can find a lot of harsh chemicals in shaving creams, shaving gels and other products that are geared more towards men. This is something that I think needs to be addressed.†
How To Manage Eczema and Psoriasis – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 272. Listen Now >>
Endocrine disruptors
Many of these different beauty products contain multiple chemicals that can really adversely impact our health. Some of these ingredients include phthalates and parabens. Another one is formaldehyde, which is often thought of as embalming fluid. It’s interesting that manufacturers are putting formaldehyde into products that we are applying to our skin. What about lead, mercury and so many other harmful endocrine-disrupting chemicals that we expose ourselves to, oftentimes unknowingly, each and every single day? Exposure to these chemicals over the course of weeks, months and years can lead to full-blown endocrine disruption.†
Endocrine disruption is related to our hormone system. We can affect the sex hormones. We can impact the pancreatic hormones, like glucose and insulin. We can affect our thyroid hormone.†
These cosmetic and beauty products contain a wide range of these different harmful chemicals that we’re exposed to each and every single day. We need to know which substances are actually dangerous. We now know that many of them are and we can even get into the whole world of fragrances. Fragrances, which do not have to be disclosed by the manufacturer, are basically blends of different harsh chemicals.†
The dangers of phthalates
We need to be very, very smart about how we approach the products that we purchase and use. When you look at the preservatives that are used, this is when you get into the whole world of parabens and phthalates. There’s this very widely used group of chemicals known as phthalates that are endocrine disruptors, meaning that they pose a significant, relevant and validated risk to reproductive health, fertility and thyroid function. This has been studied time and time again. Phthalates are detected in nearly every single American, from babies all the way to people who are 100 years old. The CDC did a large national survey looking at phthalate levels in women of childbearing age and they were very surprised to see that those phthalate levels were incredibly high.†
Collagen Loss May Accelerate Aging – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 226. Listen Now >>
Phthalates are not just listed on labels. They are just common ingredients that you find in everyday cosmetic and body care products, so you’re not generally going to recognize that there are phthalates in them. Companies are not required to list them because they can fall under the category of fragrance.†
The Environmental Working Group tested a whole slew of brand name products and more than three quarters of them contained phthalates. It’s widespread. We know that phthalate exposure has been linked to hormonal changes in children, reduction in sperm production in men, DNA changes, increase in obesity and a greater likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.†
Tune into the full podcast episode to learn more about the chemicals found in skin products and how they can impact the body.
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
The power of hormones is so critical to our well-being and how we feel every day. When women start to experience menopause, there can be so many factors that can disrupt your normal sense of well-being, including sleep, energy levels and weight. Let’s talk about nutrients that can be supportive.
Flaxseed is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids that comes from the plant kingdom. It has been used throughout history not only for its culinary uses but also its numerous health benefits, which is why it is considered a powerful superfood.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH.
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Imagine that you are getting ready to watch your favorite TV show. You grab your remote control, press the UP button to change the channel, but the channel numbers are actually going down. You think it’s a fluke so you do it again, and they are still going in the opposite direction. This is what happens during endocrine disruption. Here’s what you need to know about how the chemicals that are in your everyday products are impacts your hormones and overall health.
What is Endocrine Disruption?
There are many chemicals that can interfere with our hormones and overall wellness for our endocrine system. This system is a collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate things like metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood to name a few. Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that can impact these functions within the endocrine system.
What causes Endocrine Disruption?
These chemicals are found in the products you use everyday, including plastic bottles, tupperware containers, detergents, some foods, pesticides and many cosmetics. They are also slow to break down in the environment, which can make them even more dangerous overtime. Just this week, a report was published in the Lancelot that explained the link between these endocrine disrupting chemicals and the substantial cost to society in terms of disease-states, as many of these toxins and chemicals that are found in commonly used products. Health and beauty products are commonly classified as carcinogens, meaning that they are cancer-causing. These chemicals are not well regulated and companies are not required to disclose these chemical ingredients they are using in their products.
The report in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal was published by multiple departments from New York University, University Grenoble Alpes in France, and The Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research in Japan. A summery of this research states, “There has been an increase in studies in humans of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and a deepened understanding of their effects on human health. Evidence is particularly strong from relations between perfluoroalkyl substances (heat resistant chemicals) and child and adult obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, gestational diabetes, reduced birth weight, reduced semen quality, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and breast cancer.”
What Are The Safe Ingredients and Harmful Chemicals In Common Beauty Products?
Did you know that we absorb up to 60 percent of what we apply on our skin? Yes, it is true! Anything you are putting on your skin is being absorbed into your body and into your bloodstream. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and it is permeable, meaning it allows liquids or gases to pass through it. It is likely that your daily go-to skin care products are loaded with harmful toxins and chemicals that could be affecting your health negatively. We may not notice immediate reactions to these products, but overtime the toxic burden can slowly build up in our bodies.
Here are the ingredients commonly found in generic skin care products that can disrupt your endocrine system over time. Below you will also find superior ingredients that offer health benefits that go below and beyond your skin.
Other Key Topics
Questions about chemicals and the common products you use? Leave a comment for Amanda Williams, MPH to join the conversation today!
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.